Titans’ run defense similar to 2012

The lack of improvement in the run defense has to rank as one of the bigger disappointments for the Titans this season.

When the team added big bodies like Ropati Pitoitua, Sammie Hill, Antonio Johnson and rookie Lavar Edwards, much of the reason was to bolster a run defense that ranked 24th at the end of last season.

But with two games left in the 2013 season, the Titans are ranked 23rd against the run, surrendering almost 120 yards per contest. The Titans have given up 20 rushing touchdowns, which is the second-highest figure in the league.

Arizona entered the game with the league’s 29th-ranked rushing attack, but piled up 145 rushing yards against the Titans on Sunday.

“It should be better,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said of the rushing defense. “This game here is a game we felt we would stop the run better.

“We allowed two or three runs to pop out of there early, (including) a 20-yarder. We missed some tackles. We had a guy tackled in the backfield. I had just bragged about our tackling. It just shows to watch what you brag about because it will come back to haunt you.”

It was a run that broke the back of the Titans in overtime, as Rashard Mendenhall gained 15 yards to the Tennessee 21, putting Arizona in field-goal range.

“We can’t let them have a 15-yard run to put the game away,” Munchak said. “We needed a stop there. They know that on defense. We at least have to force them to make a good throw and maybe they make a mistake. So (run defense) is something the next two weeks we have to do better at.”